A publishing partnership

The Nature of the Faint Chandra X-Ray Sources in the Galactic Center

, , and

Published 2006 March 8 © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
, , Citation Ashley J. Ruiter et al 2006 ApJ 640 L167 DOI 10.1086/503383

1538-4357/640/2/L167

Abstract

Recent Chandra X-Ray Observatory observations have revealed a large population of faint X-ray point sources in the Galactic center. The observed population consists of ≳2000 faint sources in the luminosity range ~1031-1033 ergs s-1. The majority of these sources (70%) are described by hard spectra, while the rest are rather soft. The nature of these sources still remains unknown. Belczynski & Taam demonstrated that X-ray binaries with neutron star or black hole accretors may account for most of the soft sources, but are not numerous enough to account for the observed number and X-ray properties of the faint hard sources. A population synthesis calculation of the Galactic center region has been carried out. Our results indicate that the numbers and X-ray luminosities of intermediate Polars are consistent with the observed faint hard Galactic center population.

Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS

Please wait… references are loading.
10.1086/503383